Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, issued a powerful statement after witnessing troubling scenes in a video showing 124 protesters, including minors, appearing in court today.
The footage depicts young protesters—some so weak they could barely stand and others fainting due to exhaustion and lack of food—seeking protection for their fundamental rights.
The video highlights the distressing condition of the children, many of whom look visibly malnourished, sparking national outrage over their treatment while in federal custody. The suspects, including these vulnerable minors, were reportedly detained for protesting against poor governance—an act they believed was in line with their rights under Nigeria’s democratic constitution.
Obi expressed concern that these young citizens, whose basic dignity should be respected even in custody, were poorly handled by those meant to protect them. Reflecting on the irony, he pointed out that many current leaders had once stood as advocates of good governance and used this same constitutional right to protest when they were in opposition.
Highlighting Nigeria’s global role in upholding human dignity, Obi commended the judge presiding over the case for halting the trial, which he said prevented further embarrassment to the nation on the international stage. He also called upon key authorities, including the Minister of Justice, Attorney General of the Federation, Police, DSS, and National Human Rights Commission, to conduct a thorough investigation into this alleged mistreatment of minors and take necessary actions to prevent such incidents in the future.
